4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[hilda-and-evadne]

Both hens laid today - Evadne for the first time. However, when I checked the eglu at lunch-time, one egg that looked (from the size and colour) like Hilda's was on the roosting bars just inside the door, and the other (still warm and larger and much lighter in colour than Hilda has been so far laying) was in the nest. The one on the roosting bars had a little crack in one end, as if someone had tapped it with a spoon.

 

I may be slandering Evadne but it looks as if she went to the eglu after Hilda and turfed Hilda's egg out of the nest before laying her own I guess that I may have to keep watch tomorrow afternoon to stop any more flinging around of eggs. (The dog will have the cracked egg this evening.)

[Sarah B]

Hi Rachel,

 

Congrats to Evadne on laying her first egg! I'm not sure re the turfing of the other egg out of the nestbox as I still only have one hen laying. I'm sure someone else will be along who can advise on this?

 

Well done that you have both girls laying now though - wish my Tikka would hurry up!

[hilda-and-evadne]

Well done that you have both girls laying now though - wish my Tikka would hurry up!

 

We could run a sweepstake on when Tikka will lay. Faites vos jeux, mesdames and messieurs - I wager that it will be Monday 14 April.

[Pookylover]

Gosh they are funny little things aren't they?! Is that something they do? Perhaps she just wanted a clear space to do her thing! Clare x

[Sarah B]

Well done that you have both girls laying now though - wish my Tikka would hurry up!

 

We could run a sweepstake on when Tikka will lay. Faites vos jeux, mesdames and messieurs - I wager that it will be Monday 14 April.

 

Ok, I'm going for Weds the 16th cos I won't be here LOL

[Blackrocksrock]

I will go for Sunday 13th

[Snowy]

Congratulations on Evadne's first egg!

Is it possible that Evadnes was already on the nest and wouldn't share, so poor Hilda had to lay on the bars, hence the crack? Mine sometimes do that if there is a queue for the nest. If there are eggs already in, they tuck them all under their breast rather than turf them out, it's lovely to watch! This morning Bo and Bambi were nose to tail in the nest box - Bambi laid her egg and walked away. Bo waited until she'd gone, then gently nudged Bambi's egg underneath herself

[hilda-and-evadne]

Congratulations on Evadne's first egg!

Is it possible that Evadne was already on the nest and wouldn't share, so poor Hilda had to lay on the bars, hence the crack?

 

I hope that's the explanation!

[Clarabelle]

Well done Evadne!

 

Ask her nicely if she turfed Hilda's egg out and if so, not to do it again

 

Isn't the first two-egg day wonderful, even if one of them is damaged a bit? The dog is in for a treat.

 

Sarah, I'm going for Tuesday 15th as Tikka's first egg day. Is she still dropping off and behaving strangely?

[Egluntyne]

Yes...she was probably caught short wilst waiting in line.....and as thy lay standing up, that could well have caused the crack.

[lazela]

gretta made it to the nest box first this morning but mabel was desperate to get in there and do her stuff. In the end there was a bit of a shuffle, push, and shove and then they happily shared the nest box.

 

10 minutes later and 2 eggs!!

 

Florence has also started playing tricks. She rushed out of the eglu and was clucking so loudly that I raced down to see if we were to have our first 3 egg day - but no egg Then when I had returned to the warmth of the kitchen she returned to the eglu and another 10 mins and another egg but no loud and proud yelling!!! Does anyone else have a chook that tells them that they are going to lay rather than they have just laid?

[Christian]

Elsbeth often lays on the roosting bars

 

I think she is caught short and has to go then!!!

 

Sometimes the egg has a slightly crack and other times its fine.

 

You have got me thinking now, maybe the others are turfing it out??

 

They have 2 eglus but tend to use the to lay it

[meezers]

when I had returned to the warmth of the kitchen she returned to the eglu and another 10 mins and another egg but no loud and proud yelling!!! Does anyone else have a chook that tells them that they are going to lay rather than they have just laid?

 

Hattie did that this morning ! 3 times she emerged from the nest box, the 2nd time she made such a noise that my son came running to see what the matter was, but no egg ! She then went back in for the 3rd time and quietly laid and came out with no fuss ! We did say to her ' silly girl, you're supposed to tell us afterwards , not before !'

[hilda-and-evadne]

You have got me thinking now, maybe the others are turfing it out??

 

*assumes David Attenborough whisper* - Evadne kicking out Hilda's egg before laying her own could make sense in evolutionary terms. There are definitely different genes at work in Evadne, if one goes by the two eggs she has so far laid. Different colour, much larger, than Hilda's are even now (Hilda has been laying for two weeks).

 

Still, I hope that Evadne will not make a habit of this. Haven't been able to observe any "trend" yet, as Evadne didn't lay her second one until about 8.00am today (and I removed it while it was still warm), whereas Hilda usually lays anytime after about 1.00pm.

[Pookylover]

Hi, I have popped in false eggs for my new battery girls to give them the idea on where to lay. I have watched them peck and kick the eggs out of the nest boxes repeatedly! The dummy eggs are covered in scratches and I have had a couple of eggs from them with scratches on too. May be there is something in your cuckoo theory . Clare x